When we
returned from the circumnavigation, there were hundreds of wives and children
waiting for us in the rain. A Life Magazine photographer caught this emotional
moment as a member of our crew embraced his wife and children for the first time
in 84 days.

Notice how wonderfully this man's wife is dressed and how brushed and combed her
children are. It probably cost her the last dollar in their checking account to
present herself and her children this way. Even with submarine pay, some of our
men were hard pressed to make ends meet. But this man's wife wasn't going to let
that stand in the way of meeting her husband in her Sunday best.

And while you're at it, notice this man's immaculate appearance. He has a
regulation haircut, his hat is washed and properly shaped. His uniform is clean
and white. He proudly wears "USS TRITON SSRN586" on his shoulder. He
wasn't going to let the fact that he had been inside a steel tube for 84 days
prevent him from meeting his wife and children looking "shipshape and
Bristol fashion."

I have
taken this photograph to every Triton reunion I have attended in an attempt to
find out who the sailor is so that I could present him with the photograph.
Sadly, no one has ever claimed it and no one knows who the sailor is. Hence, the
title "Unknown Sailor." I am emotionally involved with this
photograph, because to me, this man and his family is the "everyman"
of Triton. The crew of Triton was the finest group of men with whom I had the
honor to serve.

I am extremely proud of them, their families and their accomplishments.